Make peace an everyday practice
From the Wisdom Tradition and so relevant today - From Enoch to the Dead Sea Scrolls - Edmond Bordeaux Szekely
Winter came Early - Divya from Singapore
In this unanticipated change, the trees have shed their last leaves and we are surrounded by an uncertainty. Life has almost come to a halt as we seem to have entered a kind of hibernation, even in autumn, even in spring, even in the heat.
Yet despite being in vastly different climates we begin to explore together a similar shift into introspection and quietude. How do we in our inner cool climate find the spark to keep us warm? How do we continue to support one another in this solitary weather?
It is in the most difficult circumstances that we untie from our fears and the parts of ourselves we keep hidden. And it is at these times we find courage, strength and hope. Through chanting, through singing, through art, through nature, through practice. And despite the distance, through laughter, through kindness, through community, through remembrance.
Through silence.
Soon we discover that there is togetherness in separation, that seemingly we are divided by water and lines and flags yet share the same nurturing sun and moon and infinite sky.
And because we are creative and adaptable beings we are able to weather this cold in young, whimsical ways. As we approach our silver lining, we are reminded of the things that hold us together and we are reminded of grace.
As the changing winds continue to clear the skies and trees wait to form their first buds, on this day we are left to offer gratitude, remember purpose, and surrender to change.
We chant for all beings and the environment to keep the inner flame bright. There are many sending you and your loved ones wellness and support during this difficult time. You are not alone.
Likhita Japa - writing and verbally repeating the name of Om, a Christain mantra or the name of the Divine brings peace in the heart and mind that can be difficult to achieve with other forms of concentration/meditation.
In the face of uncertainity, adversity and diversity a regular sadhana - practice, develops the essential attainments of yoga in the form of steadfastness, firmness of mind and emotions, patience, humility, kindness, inspiration, nobility, integrity, power of discrimination, and steady wisdom.
History, and through the ages, man has experienced and overcome many difficulties in life, individually, culturally, in society and globally and through the wonders of science it has significantly featured in helping human suffering and sickness.
The saints, sages, munis, rishis, yogis, yogins and aspirants have always considered and explored practices for overcoming the human physical, mental, emotional conditions and suffering through introspection, self isolation, self-observation, inner awareness and living simply in balance with nature.
The ancient wisdom traditions, as they were many thousands of years ago, are most relevant today to awaken the positive and transformative potential within. There is a cosmic ocean of creative harmonious, positive thought currents, intuitive knowledge and wisdom we can access in stillness and listening to nature to redirect the awareness back to Atmabhava – seeing the light equally in all beyond borders of cast, creed, education, conditions, patterns of thought and action.
Make peace with your inner self, those surrounding you and think of others kindly as an every day practice through Sadhana, Satsang and Sankalpa.
Life without Spirituality, awareness of Self Spirit is like a dry well, a barron landscape. Swami Atmamuktananda
Inspiration: we don't only need great political platforms. If you are an self inspired person you will inspire others. Be self inspired. Swami Atmamuktananda
The Gift of Yoga - Sankalpa, Sunshine Coast
"In our current situation yoga has been such a gift to me during my time at home.
My sadhana has given me reason to get up early to begin the day and to follow a routine. I begin the day with our morning chanting, asana and pranayama.
I am working from home, so try to complete a short yoga nidra just before lunch, ashram style, to give me a break from the computer. Then, before bed I meditate and complete my Guru mantra to quieten my mind for sleep. Yogic breathing has also helped me if I become anxious when going to the supermarket.
Yogic breathing and mantra are the perfect tools to calm the mind and body and can be completed anywhere. I also try to focus my days on how I can be of service to others. Karma Yoga is another great way to get the mind off itself.
We are so lucky to have these yogic tools and now is the perfect time to remember them and use them. They have been helping me so much. Hari Om Tat Sat."
The Swan Meditation Theory & Practice - Theory & Practice, Satyam Yoga Prasad read only publication
The qualities of the Swan are being able to see the real amongst the unreal, the butter in the milk, the potential in ourselves although not always apparent.
The swan has another important ability, according to the vedic texts: it can filter milk from water. This exemplifies the power and quality of discrimination. Discrimination means to understand the difference between one quality and another, between permanent and impermanent, practical and impractical, something that helps and something that hinders. This ability is an important function to cultivate for establishing oneself in positive direction and fulfilling the inner and outer aspirations in life with balance and harmony.
S | relates to Strengths |
W | to Weaknesses |
A | to Ambition or Aim |
N | to Needs |
….. And to understand and discriminate and find empowerment in what is useful in creating balance in life and lifestyle.
If we don’t understand ourselves, our purpose of our life in relation to these qualities, then what is the quality of our life all about.
Self-knowledge
Our strengths, weaknesses, ambitions or aims are the experiences we have from day to day and form the structure of our personality which become the outcomes in our life accordingly. If we don’t understand the structure of our personality there is instability in personal decision making, lack of clarity and discernment and ultimately imbalance and disharmony in emotional and mental behaviour and thinking.
….. And only then will come the aspect of Self-acceptance and the courage to consciously work on changing those patterns we declare are no longer valuable or useful to us.
After dinner and as part of our inspirational evening program is reading to each other from this little gem of a book on Cultivating Spiritual Samskaras by Sw. Niranjanananda. This publication outlines the Lifestyle Yama & Niyamas to transform conditioning or traits that relate to a change in thought, creating awareness in behaviour and action in mind and emotions and attitude. We read for about 10mins and then have a discussion on a particular practice or topic of interest from the reading.
These small publications are available on our Shop Site and are helpful in ending the day with inspiration, positive teachings, coming to together and overcoming difficulties by cultivating a positive attitude with equanimty towards the situations that any one of us can unexpectedly find ourselves in.
Rocklyn Yoga Ashram, operated by Yoga Association of Victoria Inc. as an autonomous entity, remains committed to the tradition of Satyananda Yoga and continues the teachings of the Satyananda system of yoga.